Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Aaron Bean

State Sen. Aaron Bean was at his carnival-barker best this week—including some surprises—when he spoke to teens attending this year’s American Legion Boys State at Tallahassee’s Civic Center. The idea of the non-partisan event is to “gain hands-on experience to leadership by taking part in the political process through role-play civic exercises,” its website explains. VISIT FLORIDA CEO Ken Lawson also was there just before Bean spoke. Bean, a licensed auctioneer, is a Boys State alum, as are all three of…

Florida’s vicennial Constitution Revision Commission made its first stop in the Tampa Bay area Wednesday. Members of the public came before the 37-member council — organized to get together every 20 years — and were allowed only two minutes to discuss what amendments should, or should not, be placed on the 2018 ballot. The first speaker, 18-year-old graduating high school senior John Alvarez, said one of the best ways to overcome income inequality in Florida would be to implement a…

A push by Florida’s largest power company to charge customers for out-of-state fracking appears dead for this session. House Speaker Richard Corcoran said Monday he has “too many reservations” about Senate Bill 1238 and the potential consequences it would have on state ratepayers and the environment. He added the House would not vote on it if the Senate passes it. Republican Sen. Aaron Bean, the bill’s sponsor, said his proposal would have helped keep electricity costs down in the long…

A bill to make Secretary of State an elected, Cabinet-level post advanced Wednesday through the Senate Rules Committee. Legislation by Fernandina Beach Republican Aaron Bean (SB 882) rolled through the committee with neither debate nor discussion. Historically, the Secretary of State in Florida was elected by the public, but that changed in 1998 when constitutional changes removed that position from the elected Cabinet of the executive branch. Bean has argued in committee meetings that four is an odd number for the…

Legislation banning sanctuary city policies moved through another Florida House committee Tuesday. Yalaha Republican Rep. Larry Metz‘s bill (HB 697) would force any “sanctuary city” or county in Florida to remove all formal or informal policies shielding undocumented immigrants from federal custody. It passed the House Subcommittee on Local, Federal and Veterans Affairs on a 9-5 vote on Tuesday. The legislation would fine local governments that don’t comply with immigration officers between $1,000 to $5,000 a day. It requires local officials to report violations, but exempts…

Legislation requiring the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to give free access to the state’s parks for foster families was passed by legislators Wednesday. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources unanimously passed bill, CS-SB 64, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, would waive, or offer discounted entry, into all state parks for specified and adoptive families. The Division of Recreation and Parks within the DEP would come up with uniform documentation standards for such families to enjoy…

A Florida Senate committee unanimously passed a proposal Tuesday giving electric utilities the opportunity to invest in natural-gas reserves and recoup money from customers. The legislation would allow any Florida power company using natural gas for 65 percent or more of its electricity generation to explore out-of-state for natural gas using residential ratepayer’s money. The bill from Fernandina Beach Republican Aaron Bean bill (SB 1238) is a response to the Florida Supreme Court’s rejection last May to Florida Power & Light’s program of investing ratepayers money…